In the present work a natural textile reinforced concrete (TRC) was developed and mechanically characterized. A fabric made of jute, a natural occurring fiber, was used as reinforcement in a fine grained cementitious matrix with a low content of calcium hydroxide. Tensile tests were performed on TRC reinforced with 3 and 5 layers of jute fabric. The mechanical tensile tests were coupled with image analysis in order to measure the crack spacing and the results were correlated with the applied tensile strain. Various stages of loading corresponding to initiation, propagation, distribution, opening, and localization of a crack system in the specimen are discussed. In order to improve the fiber-matrix interface the jute fabric was treated with a polymer based coating.
This work evaluated the effect of different concentrations (5, 10, and 20%) of Bordeaux mixture (Bm) in the diet of the silkworm caterpillars in order to improve the cocoon production and structural and mechanical properties of the ensuing silk. The cocoon yield, tensile properties, and microstructure (X-ray diffraction, surface fracture, and qualitative composition) of the obtained silk fiber threads were determined. The mortality levels of caterpillars fed on mulberry leaves with Bm were up to 80% higher than the rates observed on caterpillars fed on non-treated leaves. The consumption of leaves decreased as the amount of Bm introduced to the caterpillars' diets was increased. However, the lower demand of leaves by caterpillars fed on leaves treated with 5 and 10% of Bm did not imply in obtaining lower cocoon productivity, as the raw silk rates were not different in comparison to the control group. The tensile strength and maximum strain of the fiber were greatly improved, whereas the toughness was not statistically improved by the presence of Bm in the diet. There was an increase in the concentration of Ca and Cu in the silk fiber threads treated with Bm, leading to higher crystallinity. If the cocoon producers were rewarded with an increase in cocoon quality, the application of Bm could be interesting, despite the increase in caterpillars' mortality.
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